Brief Summary:
Jurgis is listening to an orator, and when he is done speaking, Jurgis finds him to get more information about the party. The orator introduces him to Ostrinski, who Jurgis talks with about their shared misery. Ostrinski talks about the two classes of the economy: the privileged capitalist class and the impoverished proletariat, which is the much larger group. He says that since there are fewer capitalists, it is easier for them to work together to better their own lives. He argues that although there is political freedom in America, slavery still exists when dealing with money. He is angry that America is known to be the "land of the free".
characters: Jurgis, orator, Ostrinski
Passages:
"He had never been so stirred... nothing would be the same to him; he would understand it, and bear it" (329-330)).
"Also he had always the progress to encourage him... coming over to the Socialists" (334).
"That was always the way, said Ostrinski...and he expected to convert all the world the first week" (335).
"It was the new religion of humanity...the teachings of Christ" (336).
"When Jurgis made himself familiar....declared war upon civilization" (337-338).
"It divided the country into districts....taking possession of the Union Stockyards!" (338).
Jurgis is listening to an orator, and when he is done speaking, Jurgis finds him to get more information about the party. The orator introduces him to Ostrinski, who Jurgis talks with about their shared misery. Ostrinski talks about the two classes of the economy: the privileged capitalist class and the impoverished proletariat, which is the much larger group. He says that since there are fewer capitalists, it is easier for them to work together to better their own lives. He argues that although there is political freedom in America, slavery still exists when dealing with money. He is angry that America is known to be the "land of the free".
characters: Jurgis, orator, Ostrinski
Passages:
"He had never been so stirred... nothing would be the same to him; he would understand it, and bear it" (329-330)).
"Also he had always the progress to encourage him... coming over to the Socialists" (334).
"That was always the way, said Ostrinski...and he expected to convert all the world the first week" (335).
"It was the new religion of humanity...the teachings of Christ" (336).
"When Jurgis made himself familiar....declared war upon civilization" (337-338).
"It divided the country into districts....taking possession of the Union Stockyards!" (338).